Roger Goodell: Colin Kaepernick can protest, but NFL feels ‘very strongly’ about patriotism
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has weighed in on Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, and he’s given him tepid support at best.
Goodell told the Associated Press that Kaepernick is well within his rights to protest, but stated firmly that the NFL was a firm believer in patriotism.
“I support our players when they want to see change in society, and we don’t live in a perfect society,” Goodell said, via Barry Wilner of the AP. “On the other hand, we believe very strongly in patriotism in the NFL. I personally believe very strongly in that.”
Goodell added that players who wish to make statements on society should take care to select the right platform to do so.
“We have to choose respectful ways of doing that so that we can achieve the outcomes we ultimately want and do it with the values and ideals that make our country great,” Goodell said.
Goodell’s comments sound an awful lot like those of many others: Kaepernick is free to protest, but I don’t approve of the way he’s doing it. Many do approve, though — he’s getting a large amount of support from fans and fellow athletes alike.
